The design team from One Coast Design remodeled the Coburn Hutchinson House in Summerville, S.C. The home is a rare surviving example of Charleston Single-style architecture, with one particular space standing out among the rest: The Blue Bathroom.
Tucked into one of the home’s original guest suites and accessed through a set of original French doors off the piazza, the bathroom was transformed from a utilitarian clockroom into a vintage and period-accurate spa room. Michelle Sauter, lead designer at One Coast Design and owner of the Coburn Hutchinson House, described the space as small but mighty.
Above the sink, an ornate, late-1800s Italian mirror reflects the intention behind the entire restoration. With an authentic patina and delicate gilded woodwork, it brings a dose of global history to this Southern home.
Preservation, not replacement, was key to this renovation. The design team chose to retain the original heart pine flooring, sealed with marine-grade protectant. This decision proved that historic homes can preserve their originality, while still being beautiful and practical. The bathroom is painted in a soft, indigo color, which is pulled straight from the Charleston design, representing the indigo crops that shaped the region’s economy. Lined with Victorian-era details throughout, the bathroom was designed to be historically respectful and creatively inspired.
